Harvey, 23, progressed to the final after eliminating Ireland’s Mark Power 3&2 in the semi-final having advanced past Victor H. Sidal Svendsen, of Denmark, in the quarter-final 4&3.

“It’s just unbelievable. I’m overwhelmed with emotion right now. I played great out there today. He (Power) had a go at the end when I went four up, and I nearly messed it up. But I got a good up and down on 16 to halve the hole and win,” Harvey said.

“By far, this is the greatest achievement of my golfing career, by a good stretch. I know I have still got 36 holes tomorrow and it’s going to be a massive grind but I’m capable of winning, so I’ve just got to go out there and play well and make birdies.

England’s Joe Harvey advances to the final at The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale. PHOTO:R&A

“It’s awesome to be an all-English final. I know Joe well. Because there are going to be no spectators, it’s probably going to be the most relaxed Amateur final. Everyone knows what is on the line so it’s going to be a tough game. It will just be amazing. I’m just looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”

Long, 23, was equally impressive in the last four, defeating Englishman Jake Bolton 2&1 after earlier jettisoning the hopes of another Englishman Barclay Brown in a convincing 6&5 victory.

“I’m over the moon with it. I just stayed in the present, all day, all week with it and tried to make that my goal. And now I’m in the final – it’s just crazy really,” Long said.

“A couple of weeks ago we (Long and Harvey) were actually just playing in a midweek medal together. So, we’ve known each other for a while and we are really good mates. This is going to be played in great spirits and we’ve got to both go out there and enjoy it really. Enjoy the experience and enjoy the challenge.”

Harvey, who is 897th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Joe Long, who is 102nd on the WAGR, have teed up an all-England final for the first time since 1999 when Graeme Storm defeated Aran Wainwright 7&6 at Royal County Down.

Usually practice partners at The Kendleshire, the pair will now go head-to-head over 36 holes to become the first English champion since Harry Ellis triumphed at Royal St George’s in 2017.

Ahead of the biggest opportunity in their amateur careers, the winner secures exemptions into The 149th Open at Royal St George’s next year and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament and an exemption into the US Open.

Harvey was in control of his tie with Power from the outset and was four-up after 11 holes. But as he missed the green at the par-3 12th and lost the hole with a bogey four, it looked like the door was ajar for the Irishman to mount a comeback. 
A birdie at the 13th  returned Harvey to his four-hole advantage; however it took until the 16th hole for the Englishman to close out the match, with an up and-down par from the left greenside bunker, after he left winning putts short on both the 14th and 15th holes.

Joe Long closed out his semi final win with a par. PHOTO: R&A

Long was evenly matched with Bolton early on before his opponent took the first advantage going one-up with a birdie at the 4th. A bogey to follow returned the match to all square before Bolton conceded the 6th to see Long go one-up for the first time in the match, a lead he didn’t relinquish for the remainder of the tie. 
Keeping his composure, Long closed out the match on the 17th hole with a par after Bolton failed to roll in his seven-foot birdie putt. 

The 36-hole final takes place from 8.30am Sunday (5.30pm, AEST) as Harvey and Long seek to emulate last year’s champion, James Sugrue from Ireland. Other past champions include major winners José María Olazábal and Sergio Garcia, the current Great Britain and Ireland men’s team captain Stuart Wilson and, more recently, Matteo Manassero and Romain Langasque.

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